Sepp Blatter was re-elected unopposed as president of FIFA, the world governing body for football, after his only rival candidate was forced to back out of the race over bribery allegations.
The 75-year-old Swiss was supported in his quest to become FIFA's president for a fourth consecutive term by 186 of the 203 member associations. He will now be the FIFA president until 2015, RTTNews reported.
"I thank you for your trust and confidence from the bottom of my heart," Blatter said after his unchallenged victory in Zurich. "Today something marvelous happened and I'd simply like to tell you I'm deeply moved and honored. It's a challenge, a new one for me, and I accept it."
Blatter's only rival in the presidential race, Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Federation, was forced to withdraw his candidacy after he was suspended over bribery allegations on May 29.
